Hennepin Canal
View Exhibit mapThe Hennepin canal was first conceived in 1834 as a connection between the Illinois and Mississippi River, but financial problems in the state delayed many public works projects. Pressure for transportation that was cheaper than rail convinced Congress to authorize preliminary surveys on the project in 1871. Construction began in 1892 and the first boat went through in 1907, reducing the distance from Chicago to Rock Island by 419 miles (674 km). While the canal was under construction, however, the Corps of Engineers undertook a widening of the locks on both the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The new locks on those rivers were twenty and forty feet wider than the canal locks, making them obsolete before their initial use.
In the 1930s the Hennepin Canal was used primarily for recreational traffic. The Hennepin Canal, which at one time was known as the Illinois and Mississippi Canal, was open to boat traffic until 1951 at no cost. Ice made from the canal's frozen waters was sold during the winters to help pay the canal's maintenance costs.
The entire canal is now on the register of histroic places
CBQ - Hennepin Feeder Canal Bridge (Whiteside County, Illinois)
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Hennepin Feeder Canal on Abandoned CB&Q RailwayOpen to pedestrians only
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #1 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907 Replaced pedestrian bridge to carry trailLost Bridge over East Bureau Creek on Hennepin CanalLost / Replaced with pedestrian bridge to restore bike path
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #2 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907. Lost in 1998 flood.Hennepin Canal aqueduct over Big Bureau CreekLost in 1998 flood. Replaced with pedestrian bridge to restore bike path
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #3 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907Hennepin Canal aqueduct over West Bureau CreekOpen to pedestrian & canoe traffic
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #4 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907Hennepin Canal aqueduct over Cole CreekOpen to pedestrian and canoe traffic
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #5 (Henry County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907Aqueduct over Mud Creek on Hennepin Canal NW of AnnawanOpen to canoe and pedestrian traffic
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #6 (Henry County, Illinois)
Built between 1892 - 1907Aqueduct over Spring Creek on Hennepin Canal 3 mi NW of AtkinsonOpen to canoe & pedestrian traffic
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #7 (Henry County, Illinois)
Built between 1892 - 1907Aqueduct over Geneseo Creek on Hennepin CanalOpen to canoe & pedestrian traffic
Hennepin Canal Aqueduct #8 (Henry County, Illinois)
Built between 1892-1907Lost Aqueduct over Green River on Hennepin CanalRemoved. Replaced with pedestrian bridge to carry trail over river
Hennepin Canal Bridge 10 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Warren pony truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on Hennepin Canal TrailOpen to pedestrians
Hennepin Canal Bridge 10A (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built 1931; rehabilitated 1982; moved in 2011Through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on CH 8 in WyanetMoved to a new location and replaced by a new bridge,
Hennepin Canal Bridge 15 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on Hennepin Canal Parkway TrailOpen to pedestrians
Hennepin Canal Bridge 24 (Henry County, Illinois)
Abandoned through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on E 2600th St 2 mi NW of AnnawanaAbandoned
Hennepin Canal Bridge 36 (Henry County, Illinois)
Crossing is shown on a 1911 township map.Pony/through plate girder bridge over Hennnepin Canal Lock 24 on old Grange Rd alignment just N or GeneseoOpen to pedestrians
Hennepin Canal Bridge 6 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built 1900Pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on 1150N, 1.2 mi. north of TiskilwaClosed
Hennepin Canal Bridge 7 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Abandoned pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on an old alignment of 1700 E St. NW of TiskilwaAbandoned
Hennepin Canal Bridge 8 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on an old alignment of CR 1280 NW of TiskilwaOpen to pedestrians
Hennepin Canal Bridge 9 (Bureau County, Illinois)
Pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on an access to the Hennepin Canal Parkway Trail/an abandoned alignment of CR 1550 in WyanetOpen to pedestrians only
Hennepin Canal Lock 22 lift Bridge (Bureau County, Illinois)
Canal opened 1907Pony/through plate girder bridge over Hennepin Canal on CR-310 East (Abandoned Alignment)Open to pedestrians
Hennepin Canal Lock 26 Lift Bridge (Henry County, Illinois)
Built in 1904Vertical lift bridge over Hennepin Canal on Hennepin Canal Trail 3 mi E of ColonaOpen to pedestrians
RI - Hennepin Canal Swing Bridge (Rock Island County, Illinois)
Built 1894; Removed 1970Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RailroadReplaced
UP - Hennepin Canal Bridge (Bureau County, Illinois)
Built 1905Lattice through truss bridge over Hennepin Canal on UPRR (former C&NW)